Single Idea 3951

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 1. Proof of God]

Full Idea

From the dependency I find in myself and my ideas, I do by an act of reason necessarily infer the existence of a God.

Gist of Idea

There must be a God, because I and my ideas are not independent

Source

George Berkeley (Three Dialogues of Hylas and Philonous [1713], III p.222)

Book Reference

Berkeley,George: 'The Principles of Human Knowledge etc.', ed/tr. Warnock,G.J. [Fontana 1962], p.222


A Reaction

No. Hume answered this, by showing how big abstract ideas are built up from experience. This is a future bishop's wish-fulfilment.